Two men wanted by Interpol are arrested in Korea, police say

A Chinese thief wanted by Interpol was arrested in Korea after having hidden out here for the past eight years, Seoul police said Wednesday.

The 35-year-old, known only by his surname Ju, along with two other accomplices was wanted for stealing 121 motorcycles worth 700,000 yuan ($111,800) in 2005 in China, officials from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said.

According to its investigation, Ju evaded Chinese authorities and arrived in Korea via plane in November 2007. As a legal immigrant, Ju made a living selling cell phones in cities in Gyeonggi, including Siheung and Ansan.

In January 2014, the International Criminal Police Organization issued an Interpol Red Notice, an alert circulated internationally to seek, arrest and extradite a wanted person.

Interpol, the world’s largest international police organization, cooperates with 190 member countries to arrest and extradite fugitives wanted for committing serious crimes.

Collaborating with Interpol and Chinese authorities, Korean police requested that the Ministry of Justice void Ju’s immigration visa, making him an illegal sojourner in the country since Jan. 12.

Ju was arrested on Feb. 10 in a mobile phone retail shop in Ansan, Gyeonggi, police said. He is awaiting extradition to China and is currently in the custody of the Justice Ministry’s Immigration Office.

Seoul police also said on Wednesday that they had arrested another Interpol Red Notice target wanted by American authorities, a 48-year-old Korean man surnamed Lee who stands accused of attempting fraud.

Between January 2010 and February 2011, Lee attempted to sell Korean wastewater treatment equipment, estimated to be worth $1.34 million for nine pieces, with falsified certificates to six local U.S. governments.

Working with accomplices in the United States, Lee is accused of concealing where the equipment was manufactured and fabricating authentication certificates. Korean police plan to extradite Lee to the United States.

BY SARAH KIM [sarahkim@joongang.co.kr]